Tinder Wants to Bring Artificial Intelligence Into Their Dating App

Even though Tinder released a fake promo for "TinderVR" last month, a spoof on connecting people through a couple's virtual reality headset, they have some very real plans to bring new technology into their dating app. Sean Rad, the founder and newly appointed chairman of Tinder, announced the company's actual plans to include AI and augmented reality in upcoming years.

Rad explained his Tinder plans at the Startup Grind Global conference on Tuesday, saying AI may be able to match you with someone without any swiping on your part:

"In five years time Tinder might be so good, you might be like Hey Siri, what's happening tonight? And Tinder might pop up and say 'There's someone down the street you might be attracted to. She's also attracted to you. She's free tomorrow night. We know you both like the same band and its playing - would you like us to buy you tickets?... and you have a match. It's a little scary to think that would happen, but I think it's inevitable"

This development stems from Rand's initial desire to create a platform where you can show interest in another person without the fear of face-to-face rejection, with the app allowing some anonymity between both sides. But the use of a matchmaking AI would take online dating to the next level. Rand continues, "Can we reduce the work you have to do to meet someone new? Can we reduce the work that you have to do to get to know that person?"

There are also plans to bring in augmented reality somehow. For Rand, a big problem with technology was how so much of it isn't socially acceptable, such as the unpopular Google Glass. He suspects that the issue stems from the constant interruptions that augmented reality brings to our already technology filled day-to-day experience. But the mogul also thinks that we're "on the cusp of a platform shift:"

"The better technology gets, the smarter it could become about when to interrupt us and give us valuable information... I think a lot about how we can use AI to transform dating in the next five years. You can imagine how, with augmented reality, that experience could happen in the room, in real time. The impact is profound as these devices get closer to your senses, to your eyes, to your experiences."

So far, Tinder has 50 million monthly users. Rand's goal is to push all of the 600 million single people with smartphones onto his app. He then finishes with the powerful statement "AI is an important creator and enabler...I hope the next evolution will be led by us." Hopefully, Tinder and AI will be a match.